Law Offices of Paine, Kilpatrick, Coleman & Mahoney (Tacoma, WA)
The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be a confusing and unnerving time, so it’s important to know what steps to take. The attorneys at Paine, Kilpatrick, Coleman & Mahoney, P.C. in Tacoma, WA, understand that some of those steps are time-sensitive, and should be dealt with right away. After an accident, sometimes even the smallest details can significantly impact a personal injury case.
You need to know how to organize and act, so read more below for guidance from these legal professionals.
1. Seeking Medical Help
Sometimes after an accident, a person may not be immediately aware that they have sustained an injury. Indeed, sometimes even very serious injuries such as concussions or internal injuries may not cause immediate physical symptoms.
So if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, even if it feels like nothing is wrong, you should still consider seeking medical attention. Nothing is more important than your health.
A doctor can properly evaluate you, to determine whether or not you suffered injuries in the motorcycle accident, and can make treatment recommendations if they are needed. Furthermore, if you did sustain significant injuries, having those injuries verified and professionally documented by a doctor will help prove the full extent of your damages when negotiating with an insurance company or when filing a case in court for losses caused by the accident. Having these medical documents and a doctor’s testimony can be crucial in winning your cases.
2. Gathering Evidence
Following a motorcycle accident, you’ll want to collect everything that was involved in the crash. This includes your motorcycle, riding gear, clothes you were wearing, anything in your pockets or a backpack, and other associated items. We recommend that you never repair or clean anything without first talking to an attorney, because often, such physical items may be helpful in determining what happened in the accident. This physical evidence might even be important for use as exhibits in court.
It is also important to identify any witnesses who saw the accident, as their statements can help corroborate the facts for purposes of later negotiating a settlement, or for testimony at trial.
3. Hiring a Lawyer
Once you have seen a doctor, and have an initial understanding of your injuries, it may be time to consult with a personal injury attorney. To effectively build a case against the driver at fault, you’ll want an attorney to examine all of the evidence and advise on further steps to take to help you receive fair compensation for your damages. Having an attorney will drastically increase your chances of a successful outcome, and will help make sure you don’t take any missteps along the way.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Paine, Kilpatrick, Coleman & Mahoney, P.C. Their experienced legal team will work closely with you to achieve the best possible outcome.
Call (253) 472-3323 to schedule a consultation, and visit their website to learn more about their practice.
The attorneys at Paine Kilpatrick Coleman & Mahoney PC have over a century of combined experience and a reputation for providing extremely effective representation to accident victims throughout the Tacoma, WA, area. Call (253) 472-3323 to discuss your personal injury case today.